Hoop-propelling implement.



E. M. MURRAY.

HOOP PROPELLING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED mac. 2. 1916.

1,243,334. Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

INVENTOR ATTOH N EY unrr an EDWARD 1vr. MURRAY, or MINGO JUNCTION, OHIO.

HOOP-'PROPELLING IMPLEMENT.

Application filed December 2, 1916':

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I; EDWARD M; MURRAY,

device for imparting the-necessary rotary improvement to toyhoopsordinarily denominated as bowling-hoops whereby the hoop may receive'aninitial impetus by the inclined. position of the device.-

Another ob ect of the invention 1S to pro vide a-hoop-bowling implementwhichmay be held in contact with the periphery of the hoop after thesame has received its initial impetus so that a continued propellingmotion may be'imparted to the hoop thus affording-amusement and exerciseto juveniles who fancy the employment of bowlinghoops when at play.

Another object of the invention-isto provide a hoop-bowling implementhaving a trackway along which the hoop may be permitted'to roll whenreceivingits initial impetus, the device being providedwith means forretaining the hoop'in fixed; position at one end of the trackway untilthe player is ready to release the hoop which may be accomplished by aslight movement of the thumb or forefinger.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a top whichconsists of comparatively few parts and is simple in construction, butdurable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which devicesof this character are ordinarily subjected.

For a full description of the invention and the advantages and meritsthereof, reference is to be had to the following description and theaccompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred form of myinvention, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device showing the hoop in lockedposition,

- Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 83 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4c is a section on the line f-i of Fig. 1 looking in the directionindicated by the arrow.

Referring to the drawing, wherem 1s Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patentedflct. 16, 1917.

Serial No. 134,689.

illustr-atedthe preferred form of my invention, and in which likenumerals of reference indicate corresponding parts througlr out theseveral views, the implement comprises the relatively long shank 1 whichmay be constructed of wood or other suit able light \veightmaterial andis provided at one end with a handle 2 which the player grips-when usingthe device. One end of the shank is provided with a longitudinal slot 3whicl'rextends completely through the shank and is in communication witha channel 1 formed by a sheet; of tin or other suitable light metal'which is bent to provide side walls for the channel the edges of whichare fastened in any suitable-manner to the bottomsurface of the shank1'. The bottoinwall 5 of the channel is disposed at an angle and joinsthe shank at the forward terminal of the slot 3, at which point the wall5 merges with-the top surface of the shank. Forwardly of the slot 3 theshank is provided with upstanding flanges 6 spaced apart at a distanceequal-to the width of the slot 3 thereby providing a second channelortrackway 7 along which the hoop will roll when receiving its initialimpetus.

A guard member 8 is constructed from a length of wire having itsterminals fastened asat 9 to the shank and atopposite sides of thetrackway from which point the end portions of the wire extend at rightangles to the shank and are held in rigid position by the ears 10 formedon the rear ends of the flanges 6 and wrapped around the wire as clearlyshown by the drawing. At the ends of the right angularly extendingportions or standards 11 formed by the wire, the same is bent to lie ina horizontal plan for providing a yoke 1:3 which embraces the hoop 13when the same is mounted in latched position. Retaining standards lethave their ends fastened to the shank and their opposite ends secured tothe rear portions of the yoke 12 thus retaining the yoke in properposition.

As clearly shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing the shank carries a latch 15pivotally mounted upon a pin 16. One end of the latch is adapted toengage the hoop 13 while the opposite end is rolled to provide a knob 17which may be engaged by the thumb or forefinger when releasing the hoopfrom the latch. A coil expansion spring 18 has one end fastened to a lug19 carried by the shank and its oppos ite end fastened to the latch 15.This spring tends to hold the latch in operative position and causes thelatch to retain its locked position on the hoop -while the same isdesired to be held in the trackway by the player.

At the forward end of the shank is provided the oppositely extendingguides 20 which have their ends turned to provide retaining flanges 21whereby the guides will be prevented from slipping off the periphery ofthe hoop while the propeller is propelling the same.

Assuming the hoop to be in latched position as shown by the drawing, itis merely necessary for the player to grip the handle 2 with one end andrest the opposite end of the shank upon the ground. The player will thenpress the latch 15 and the hoop will thereby be released and will traveldownward along the trackway by virtue of the inclined position of theshank thereby receiving its initial impetus. The player will then runforwardly with one of the. guides 20 in engagement with the periphery ofthe hoop and a continued pressure on the periphery will cause the hoopto continue its rolling motion until the player relaxes in his efforts.

It is apparent that only one hand of the player is necessary to impartboth the starting and the continued motion to the hoop, whereas it hasbeen heretofore necessary to employ both hands before starting the hoopon its initial movement.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a very simple and durabletoy has been provided, the details of which embody the preferred form. Idesire it to be understood however, that slight changes in the minordetails of construction may be made Without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim:

1. A hoop propelling implement comprising a shank having a trackwayformed thereon, one end of the trackway being disposed below the levelof the shank, a hoop mounted in the said lowered portion of the.trackwav, means for releasably retaining ing, the combination with ahoop, an inclined trackway, one end of the trackway being disposed at anangle to the opposite end and depressed below the plane of the said end,guide members arranged at the forward terminal of the said trackway, aretaining latch, means for holding the retaining latch in releasableengagement with the hoop, and

guard members disposed at either side of the said trackway. V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

EDl/VARD M. MURRAY,

Witnesses;

HENRY FRIELING,

' SAMUEL G. PAULS.

Copies otthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,- Washington, D. 0.

